Women on Waves is a Dutch organisation founded in 1999. It provides abortion services on board a ship to women living in countries with restrictive abortion laws.
WOW has docked in many countries from Ireland to Morocco. Once the ship has been docked, women board the boat, and then the ship sails back into international waters. Woman on Waves operates using a loophole in international law, which says that when a vessel is travelling the seas, the laws of the home country apply.
Women undergo a medical abortion on board, brought on by the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.
The women who run and staff the ship are passionate about helping women without access to adequate reproductive health services. The ship carries mifepristone and misoprostol as well as oral contraceptive pills and condoms.
Australian women however have access to safe, legal termination. At our 5 GCA clinics in Sydney, Newcastle, Gosford, Wollongong and Canberra we provide first trimester surgical termination to 14 weeks. We also provide medical termination in accordance with the protocol of the TGA.
In Australia a woman over the age of 14 can consent to an abortion if the doctor deems her mature enough to do so. In addition she does not require the consent of her partner for an abortion. There is also no enforced waiting period.
For more information about an abortion or to book a consultation please call on 02 9585 9599 or complete our online booking form